Description

For sample persons (age 20 years and over in 1977), this variable reports how often the person eats between meals, including evening snacks. For 1983, and 1977, respondents could answer, "Every day," "Sometimes," or "rarely or never." For 1985 and 1990, the "almost every day" replaced "every day."

For all years, the term snack is respondent defined.

The question for SNACKS in 1977 was asked for a sub-sample of randomly selected persons age 20 and over; NHIS automatically classifies persons who were selected but did not complete the questions as responding "unknown " for this variable. Users may choose to use this variable in combination with SUBSRESP77, which reports the person's sub-sample status in 1977.

Comparability

Apart from the change in universe, this variable is comparable over time. Note the IPUMS NHIS recode combines "every day" with "almost every day" to increase comparability over time.

Universe

Availability

• 1977, 1983, 1985, 1990

Weights

• 1985, 1990 : SAMPWEIGHT
• 1983 : SUPP1WT
• 1977 : SUB77WT